Ogden Motorcyclist, 64, Killed on Washington Boulevard, Third Such Death Since July

A 64-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene early Thursday after a Honda Element turned left directly into his path on Washington Boulevard in Ogden, marking the third fatal motorcycle crash tied to a turning vehicle in the city since July. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time, and the crash prompted officers to shut down northbound traffic near 12th Street for hours as investigators worked the scene.

According to a statement from the Ogden City Police Department reported by KUTV, the motorcyclist was riding in the northbound lanes of Washington Boulevard when a 2023 Honda Element traveling southbound turned left into a parking lot, crossing directly into his path. A statement from Ogden police, detailed by Gephardt Daily, adds that the collision happened around 6:10 a.m., and that after the initial impact, the Honda ricocheted into a truck that was waiting to exit the same driveway, ultimately involving three vehicles at the scene. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene; his identity has not been released. The Honda's driver was taken to a local hospital with what police described as minor injuries.

Investigators Close Roadway, Urge Public to Steer Clear

Officers closed northbound traffic on Washington Boulevard from 12th Street while crews worked the crash site, and asked the public to avoid the area during the early investigation. All lanes were reopened once that initial phase wrapped up, per the same account relayed by KUTV. The crash investigation remains ongoing.

Ogden police confirmed the case is being handled by the Weber Metro CRASH Team, a specialized multi-agency squad that handles complex traffic reconstructions and fatalities across Weber County, according to KSL.com. In its statement, the department said, “another life was lost on the roads,” and acknowledged the toll such crashes take on witnesses, first responders and medical personnel. Police also cautioned drivers to slow down, stay alert, and watch for motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians, saying that everyone on the road should watch out for one another and make safety a priority.

Third Fatal Left-Turn Crash Involving a Motorcycle Since July

This is the third fatal Ogden motorcycle crash in less than two months tied to a vehicle turning across a rider's path. On July 7, 68-year-old Robert Bow was killed on the 3300 block of Washington Boulevard when a vehicle exiting a commercial parking lot attempted a left turn directly into his path, as reported by the Standard-Examiner. Then, on August 11, a 63-year-old motorcyclist died near the 1000 block of Wall Avenue after a vehicle exiting a parking lot turned into his path, according to Gephardt Daily.

Washington Boulevard, which carries U.S. Route 89 through Ogden, functions as a major multi-lane commercial corridor with high speed limits and numerous mid-block parking lot driveways, the Standard-Examiner's reporting notes — a design that heightens the risk posed by left-turn movements into and out of those lots.

A Record Year for Motorcycle Deaths Statewide

The crash arrives amid a grim statewide backdrop. Utah Department of Public Safety data reported by KSL.com in April showed that 2025 was the deadliest year on record for motorcyclists in Utah, with 72 rider deaths, a 32% increase over 2024. A preliminary 2025 fatality report from the Utah Highway Safety Office found that failure to yield the right-of-way was the primary contributing factor in 11% of all fatal traffic crashes statewide, the second most common driver error after speeding.

Under Utah Code § 41-6a-903, drivers turning left or entering a roadway from a driveway or parking lot are legally required to yield to any oncoming vehicle close enough to pose an immediate hazard. Utah law requires helmets only for motorcycle riders and passengers under 21, though the state's traffic safety officials strongly urge all adult riders to wear one regardless of age; the 64-year-old killed Thursday complied with that guidance despite being legally exempt. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cited by Parker & McConkie, has found that a Department of Transportation-approved helmet cuts the risk of death in a motorcycle crash by 37 to 42 percent and lowers the risk of traumatic brain injury threefold.

The Weber Metro CRASH Team's investigation into Thursday's crash continues, and no further details on potential citations or contributing factors have been released.